Group of Death
South Africa have been drawn in an incredibly tough Group D at the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in South Korea. KICK OFF gives you the lowdown on what to expect from their pool stage opponents.
Amajita’s World Cup opponents analysed
The current side is coached by former Italian international Alberigo Evani, once a midfielder at AC Milan and Sampdoria, who has been in charge of the team since 2013. He played in only 15 matches for Italy, but did make a substitute appearance in the 1994 World Cup final and scored in the shoot-out as the Azzurri lost to Brazil. Italy qualified for the Under-20 World Cup this year by finishing as runners-up in the UEFA Under-19 Championships that were played in Germany last July. They defeated a powerful host nation in the pool stages, before a 2-1 semi-final victory over England. They were thumped 4-0 in the final by France though. Left-back Federico Dimarco, on loan at Empoli from Inter Milan, is a wizard at setpieces, posing a real danger for Amajita. Riccardo Orsolini (left) is tipped to be a future star at parent club Juventus, having shone on loan at Ascoli. He has enjoyed good goalscoring form for club and country and will have to be closely watched. Another emerging star at Juventus, Rolando Mandragora, has been excellent for the side in a defensive midfield role. Italy qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2009, and have reached the quarter-final stage on each of their last three visits to the tournament.
Summary: Japan were runners-up in the 1999 Under-20 World Cup when they lost to Spain in the decider, and are hoping that the Class of 2017 can at least do that well in nearby South Korea, where they are likely to enjoy significant support. This is a vital period for the side with many of these players hoping to represent their country in the Under-23 tournament at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020, with the core of this group likely to provide the backbone of that team. Japan are the current Asian Under-19 Championship holders, having finally overcome a long-running hoodoo that had seen them miss out on the trophy despite their consistent success at senior national team level. They had lost all six of their previous finals in the competition, finally ending the “curse” that had dated back to 1973. Coach Atsushi Uchiyama has been in the job since 2014, and won wide acclaim for the organisation and stability he has brought to the team. Yokohama F-Marinos midfielder Keita Endo (right) is a hugely important figure in the engineroom of the side and, being a regular in the J-League for his club, is more experienced than most. Gamba Osaka midfielder Mizuki Ichimaru is another important player in the centre of the park, while forward Koki Ogawa has recently forced his way into the team at J-League club Jubilo Iwata. Left-sided full-back/winger Ritsu Doan is tipped for success at Gamba Osaka, where he has featured heavily in the Asian Champions League already this season. He has been a regular scorer at youth level. Japan are appearing in their first Under-20 World Cup since they made the second round in Canada in 2007. The only time they have failed to get out of the pool stages in eight finals tournaments was in Argentina in 2001. Summary: Uruguay are the most experienced of the four sides in South Africa’s pool at the Under-20 World Cup, having been to 13 previous finals, including each of the last five. They were runners-up in Turkey in 2013, to go with a silver medal in 1997 in Malaysia, ironically South Africa’s first appearance at the global games. Four years ago they lost to a Paul Pogba-inspired France, while in 1997 they missed out to an Argentina side that contained the likes of Esteban Cambiasso, Walter Samuel, Juan Román Riquelme and Pablo Aimar. Uruguay qualified for the 2017 finals in South Korea as champions of South America, which tells you everything you need to know about their prowess. They won four of their five matches at the continental finals, defeating Brazil, Argentina and Colombia along the way, losing only to Ecuador when they had already wrapped up the title in the roundrobin competition. They have been coached since 2014 by Fabian Coito, who led the country’s Under-17 side to the final of the 2011 World Cup in that age-group, where they lost to Mexico. The team’s victory at the 2017 South American Under-20 Championships came about via stout defensive organisation and the attacking talents of four key players. Nacional striker Rodrigo Amaral (left), who played in the 2015 World Cup in New Zealand, finished joint top-scorer in the competition with five goals and has a lethal touch in the six-yard box. Rodrigo Bentancur is a class act in midfield, but as he is already a regular with Argentine giants Boca Juniors, there is some debate over whether he will be released for the finals in South Korea. Facundo Waller from Uruguayan side Plaza Colonia is a targetman striker who doesn’t score many, but brings others into the play, while Nicolás Schiappacasse is making a name for himself in the B team of Atletico Madrid, having moved from River Plate at the start of this season.